Tag Archives: Sherlock

Sherlock Season 4 is filming! I know, I know. You’ve seen Setlock pictures online. You’ve seen Gatiss teasing us. (Did you expect him to resist?)

Now, I don’t have cable anymore, BBC doesn’t have a streaming service, and I’m not willing to wait until long after the internet has spoiled all the good stuff before I watch it. I must discover a way to watch it as soon as it is released. Fortunately, I have some time to figure this one out. Fortunately? Who am I kidding. The Christmas Special just whetted or appetites. I need more Sherlock!

Moriarty? No?

Sorry, not actually Moriarty, but with with announcement that the Christmas(ish) special of Sherlock will be released in cinemas worldwide, I couldn’t resist. Of course, we’ve missed Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman! I’m not even going to mention the rest of the cast, because it would just take to long. However, you have not been forgotten (as all the weird stuff posted on the internet will let you know), your loyal audience has missed you!

When will we get to see the dynamic duo in action in the 1890’s no less? (not that dynamic duo, the other one) We’ve no idea. They’re keeping that close to the vest, but lets face it, when don’t they? Gatiss and Moffatt love their secrets like they love…well, Sherlock.

As for me, hopefully, I won’t give you quite as much of a chance to miss me from here on out. Maybe it took the impending long-awaited Christmas-y special to bring me out of my cave, but here I am. I can’t have you thinking of me as the bad guy now, can I?

I got all excited about a headline I saw today. Sherlock Season 4 “Closer”! Did they really mean closer to release? Did I miss something? Nope, but Mark Gatiss tells Radio Times that they’re closer to getting a date to start filming.

This is the problem with a show with fantastically talented and popular creators and actors. Between Stephen Moffat and Mark Gatiss working on Doctor Who, Gatiss’s own acting commitments, and Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch’s television and film projects, well to say that scheduling is “challenging” is a vast understatement. Personally, I’m just glad I’m not responsible for figuring out how to get all these awesome people together…wait. Who am I kidding? I would love to be responsible for getting all these people together (Bonus points if I can be there when they all are in the same place together).

This is how I know it is too late.

Normally, I would say “be patient”. However, I know it is already too late. The fandom went mad before 1900, and it doesn’t show signs of changing. Truthfully, we wouldn’t have it any other way (Okay, we’d take moreSherlock. I thought that was a given though.) Scarily, I nearly scrolled by this one with out noticing anything had been changed.

Ah! I posted earlier today about how I’m reading The Magician King, the sequel to Lev Grossman’s The Magician. Two things about this.

First, I’m excited to see what they do with this series. I’m really loving Lev Grossman’s world in these novels, and I see a lot of potential for a television series here. Second, I would say this is an awesome coincidence, but all Sherlock fans know “the universe is rarely so lazy”. Actually, this probably is just a coincidence, because I have no idea what else it could possibly mean…I just got excited. Sorry?

Now, I want to watch Firefly…and Serenity…again. After a rather hectic few weeks, I think that is just what I’ll do this weekend…or a Hobbit marathon. The Desolation of Smaug released on video this week, a marathon of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug would be kind of awesome…or I can watch more Walking Dead, because if I do that then a friend will watch Sherlock. More people should watch Sherlock. Oooh! Netflix sent me 12 Year’s A Slave this week too! As you can tell, this will be a very productive weekend. What are you doing this weekend?

Sherlock (TV series) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

‘Til next time,
Jessica

P.S. I have just been reliably informed that today is Thursday, and I still have another workday to get through before the weekend…Bummer.

So what happens when you have a friend who gets a kick out of planning themed parties? You get a themed birthday party…whether you really want it or not.

Fortunately, my dear friend, is a fan of BBC’s Sherlock. This is helpful, because I really wanted to throw a Sherlock themed party. Remember my Doctor Who Birthday Party? I’m now hooked on themed parties, because they are so much fun to plan.

One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to spend more time with my friends (an unwritten one is to not get myself in over my head). Parties are ideal for getting my favorite people together in one place. The challenge is not getting carried away with the theme planning.

For this party, I decided to serve tea as a subtle (or not so subtle) reference to Sherlock serving tea to Moriarty in The Reichenbach Fall. Besides, I’d just unearthed the tea set my Grandma Joye got for us to use when we were kids. She would have definitely approved. My parents are remodeling their kitchen, so I helped them clean out their current cupboards. We found all kinds of gems there. Serving plates, dessert trays, and even a fondue pot. (I’ve never had fondue, so I’m not attempting it for the first time at a party. However, this is not my last theme party!) My kitchen cupboards are a little short on space now, but I have a lot of really neat stuff that will be put to good use!

I didn’t get to do all the decorating I would have liked. (Note: don’t plan a themed party when you’ll be traveling for work the week before. It makes everything feel rushed, and fun stuff has to get cut do to time constraints.) The writing was on the wall, so to speak, with Dry Erase markers providing the assist for “Get Sherlock” messages and “Honey, you should see me in a crown” on the bathroom mirror. The mirror was complete with a crown drawn just above the head of the viewer. As a parting shot for party goers, I printed a picture of Moriarty with “Miss me?” at the bottom. Since a number of people hadn’t seen all the Season Three episodes, I provided “shock” blankets, because…they’d need them.

The blankets were simple to make. Orange fleece cut to whatever size you desired with hems around the edge that were whipped stitched with dark brown embroidery thread. I’m a fan of decent sized blankets to snuggle in, and the bolt of fleece I found was perfect for that. At 60″ X 54″ there’s plenty of soft cuddly comfort to be found.

The menu consisted of items typically found at tea-time, and the bonus was it was quick and easy to put together.

Adagio Teas has a wonderful selection of fandom teas. I ordered the Sherlock Sampler. Which arrived with tea specially blended based on Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Mycroft Holmes, Anderson, Sally Donovan, Greg Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, Molly Hooper, The Woman, and Moriartea. They’ve pared down their current sampler size and price, but after tasting most of these teas, I think they’ve made good selections. My favorites were Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Moriartea, and Greg Lestrade. I like a bold strong tea with a bit of milk and sugar, and these were all perfect for that. Mycroft Holmes was also really nice, very chocolaty.

Shock Blankets and Tea

A Sherlock & Watson Cocktail was also in the plans, but it calls for Cardamom Bitters. I had no concept of how difficult it would be to find this necessary little addition, so...we just splashed whiskey in our tea and called it a day. You can order Cardamom Bitters online or check your local specialty food stores. Just plan ahead for that little gem.

We played “Sherlock” , a game I read about online that combines Clue with Jenga (the Lego guy was my idea). Setup the board just as your normally would for Clue, however in the center where the envelope containing the killer’s information goes, place the Jenga tower. The Lego figurine goes on top, since there is no Sherlock Lego yet, I used Loki (I didn’t think he’d mind.). We played with traditional Clue rules, however each time someone made an incorrect suggestion to solve the murder, they had to remove a Jenga block. The person who makes “Sherlock” fall loses. Yes, someone went there, I ran with it, and it was good.

The “spray paint” effect did not go as planned…but they still tasted great!

The original goal was to pick up something from each episode to use as a decoration, party favor or menu item. Unfortunately, some things had to get cut, because life interfered with party planning. Ah, well. The things that got the ax included:

A “photo booth” using the table-cloth fabric as a back ground and cutout mustaches, deer stalkers, blue scarves, an umbrella, and a tiara

“Crime in progress, please disturb” note for the front door

Sherlock cupcake toppers

Skull on mantelpiece

Black lotus origami

Rache spelled in red tape on the floor

A bandanna with H.O.U.N.D. Liberty, IN to go around the dog’s neck

A riding crop (or something that looks like one) randomly lying about

Laser pointers for guests to play with

The party was a grand success, and I will be keeping my list and props intact for the next Sherlock party. Watch party for Season 4? Anyone? Anyone? Since I have a good bit of time to plan for the next one, send me your ideas.

Ah, yes. It is Friday again, and I am happy! This weekend, I have a Sherlock Party for a dear friend’s birthday (or rather I’m using her birthday as an excuse to have a Sherlock party). I promise there will be pictures and everything.

Now, it’s time to bust out the Friday song. (No, I don’t mean the movie Friday.) So, kicking off your weekend and mine in the right kind of way….a little music. What are you doing this weekend?
‘Til next time,
Jessica

P.S. This was supposed to go out at like 4:30 CST…and that’s a pretty perfect example of my week. Thankfully, it is well and truly over now!

Are we surprised? Well, not really, although there were some tremendous performances nominated for each category of the National Television Awards. Best TV Detective went to Benedict Cumberbatch for Sherlock, but he was up against some incredible competition. Performances by Idris Elba in Luther (an amazing show), David Tennant and Olivia Coleman in Broadchurch (again…amazing), Suranne Jones in Scott & Bailey and Bradley Walsh in Law and Order UK were among the nominees.

Of course, if you give Benedict a camera…goofiness ensues.

The award for Best Drama went to Doctor Who because…well, it is amazing, even up against nominees such as Broadchurch and Downton Abbey. Matt Smith also took home the award for Most Popular Drama Performance…well, took home…he didn’t actually get to attend the awards show either. He’s in the middle of American Psycho (the play, silly people, the play!), but he did send an acceptance via video. You can watch that here.

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